Axially engaging air operated clutch



June 13, 1950 w, WALTON 2,511,520

AXIALLY ENGAGING AIR OPERATED CLUTCH Filed Dec. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. George W Wa/fon ATTORNEYS June 13, 1950 5, w, W N 2,511,520

AXIALLY ENGAGING AIR OPERATED CLUTCH Filed Dec. 26, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE YS June 13, 1950 c. w. WALTON 2,511,520

AXIALLY ENGAGING AIR OPERATED CLUTCH Filed Dec. 26, 1946 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W 26 3 72 3/ 2 m 22 70 64 2/ 62 5o 7/ 59 57 62 2 l x 69 IN VEN TOR. George M. Wa/fon A TTORNEY S Patented June 13, 1950 AXIALLY ENGAGING AIR OPERATED CLUTCH George W. Walton, Dallas, Tex.

Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,348

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fluid clutches.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid clutch of the type having positively driven clutch members and floating clutch plates between the members, adapted to be frictionally engaged by the members for rotating the clutch housing, wherein the various elements are simplified and made more accessible.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid clutch having geared clutching elements adapted to frictionally engage in response to a fluid actuated element and releasing means for positively disengaging the clutch elements and retracting the fluid actuated element; a portion of which releasing means may be exposed for accessibility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'novel clutch releasing or retracting means for a clutch of the character described which will be efficient and rapid in operation.

- A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other featuresof the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. l is a diametrical, sectional view of a fluid clutch constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the clutch, partly in elevation and partly in section,

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the opposite end of the clutch,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal, sectional view of the clutch releasing means,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a modified form of clutch releasing means, and

Fig. 6 is a partial end elevation of the same.

In the drawings, the numeral I designates a drive shaft which has a clutch hub II keyed thereon. The hub has external elongate teeth I2 extending longitudinally thereof intermediate its ends. Mounted around the hub II are an annular clutch head I3, an annular spacer disk I4 and an annular pressure head I; the disk I4 and head I 5 being movable longitudinally of said hub.

'One end of the hub is reduced as shown at I6 and externally screw-threaded to receive a retaining ring I I. An annular flat gasket I8 is confined upon the hub between the ring I1 and the clutch head and may belocked to said hub and head as shown at I3 and IT. The bore of the clutch head isformed with radial teeth I9 which intermesh with the end portions I2 of the hub teeth I2 said teeth being intersectedby a stop ring 20 seated in the hub and fitting in the bore of the head, at the inner end thereof, whereby said head is confined between the rings I1 and 20 against movement relative to said hub. The disk I4 and head I5 also have internal teeth I4 and I5 meshing with the teeth I2 so as to be rotatable with the hub.

The adjacent surfaces of the head I3, disk I4 and head I5 have their external peripheral portions recessed to provide annular recesses 2| and flat, annular friction clutch plates 22 float in these recesses, Each plate 22 is preferably laminated, being formed of layers of fibrous or nonmetallic material commonly used for this purpose. An annular clutch ring 23 surrounds the clutch plates and is countersunk in the inner face of a clutch housing 24 which has an integral collar 25, at its center, loosely surrounding the ring IT. The clutch ring 23 has elongate, inner teeth 26 which mesh with teeth 21 formed on the external peripheries of the clutch plates.

- When fluid pressure is applied to the head I5, the clutch plates will be frictionally'gripped between the elements I3, I4 and I5 and, if rotation is imparted to the shaft I0, said plates'are rotated and such rotation is transmitted to the clutch housing 24 by the teeth 26 and 21. Since the intermeshing teeth I2, I4, I5 and I9 and the intermeshing teeth 26 and 21 have sliding engagement, the disk and'head may move longitudinally of the hub II, and thus, when pressure is relieved on the head, the clutch plates will be released and the shaft and elements attached thereto may continue to rotate without rotating the housing 24 and ring 23 or said plates.

The head I5 has an annular chamber 28 in its outer side which receives a stationary annular member or piston 29. Spring-pressed packing rings 30 are confined in the external periphery of the abutment 29 by a cap ring 3| secured by machine screws 32, whereby a fluid seal is provided. The head has a cylindrical hub 33, forming the inner annular wall of the chamber 28. Springpressed pressure-sealing packing rings 34 are seated in the bore of the piston and snugly surround the hub 33. A follower ring 35 bears against the packing rings 34, so that while the hub may slide, a fluid-tight seal is provided.

A circular closure plate 36, preferably made integral with the hub I I, is secured to the piston 29 by machine bolts 31. Adjusting screws 38 mountchanged. Headed studs 19, extending through the piston 18 and the channel 48, are screwed into the piston head. Bow springs 80, confined under the bolt heads, have their ends curved outwardly and bearing against the outer face of the piston 18, whereby the head I is retracted, when the fluid pressure is relieved to disen age the clutch. Packing glands 8| in the abutment, surround the bolts 19 and are covered by plates 82 secured to the piston by screws 83. This arrangement provides a simple retracting means. In withdrawing the closure plate and piston 18, it would be necessary to remove the bolts 79 and springs 80.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid clutch including, an axial shaft, a hub secured on said shaft, an annular piston secured around one end of the hub, an annular pressure head surrounding the hub having an annular chamber receiving the piston and movable longitudinally, a clutch head surrounding and connected to the hub, floating annular clutch plates surrounding the hub between the pressure head and the clutch head, a disk surrounding the hub between the plates and connected to the hub, the head and disk having alined bores inwardly of the plates, a pin extending through the bores of the head and disk and having a head fixed in the pressure head, whereby the pin is rigidly held in said pressure head, the disk having a counterbore, a split ring on the pin engaging in the counterbore, and a. spring-pressed retracting member carried by the head and extending loosely through the piston.

2. A fluid clutch including, an axial shaft, a hub secured on the shaft, a pressure head surrounding the hub and having teeth engaging thereon, a disk surrounding the hub and having teeth engaging thereon, the pressure head and disk being movable longitudinally of the hub,

floating clutch plates having teeth on their outer peripheries, a surrounding member having internal teeth engaged by the clutch plate teeth, the disk being disposed between the clutch plates, the inner peripheries of the plates being spaced radially from the hub, retracting means attached to the head, and releasing elements each including a, pin rigidly attached to the head and connected with the disk between the hub and the clutch plates, and limit means on the pin limiting the movement of the disk from the head, said disk being movable on the pin wherein the head and the disk have annular recesses receiving the clutch plates and the releasing pins are disposed between said recesses and the hub.

3. As a sub-combination in a fluid clutch, a piston, a movable pressure head coacting with the piston, and retracting means including, a plunger rigidly attached to the head and extending through the piston, a, cylindrical enclosure surrounding the plunger and closed to the atmosphere, said enclosure being carried by the piston and having a pressure fluid inlet from'the head and piston, a packing surrounding the plunger at the inlet, a coil spring surrounding the plunger within the enclosure, and packing means carried by the plunger and engaging the inner wall of the enclosure, whereby pressure fluid may be trapped in the enclosure between the inlet packing and the packing means.

GEORGE W. WALTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,254,951 Ward Jan. 29, 1918 2,002,367 Fahrney May 21, 1935 2,120,798 Criley June 14, 1938 2,123,867 Criley July 19, 1938 2,282,143 Carter May 5, 1942 2,385,517 Hunt Sept. 25, 1945 2,386,220 Lawler et a1. Oct. 9, 1945 2,407,043 Tremolada Sept. 3, 1946 

